Photo Coverage: OKLAHOMA! Opens July 8 at Reagle Music Theatre

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston opens its 43rd consecutive summer season July 8-17 with a sumptuous production of Oklahoma! the first Broadway musical penned by the legendary team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Esteemed Broadway and ballet dancer Gemze De Lappe, the original Dream Laurey on the first national tour of the 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma! and choreographer for its 1979 Broadway revival, is once again recreating Agnes de Mille's original groundbreaking choreography. In collaboration with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the school's Chancellor John Mauceri, Reagle Music Theatre is also recreating the original 1943 Broadway sets and costumes. Holly-Anne Ruggiero, assistant director on Broadway with Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays), is directing with IRNE Award winner Daniel Rodriguez serving as music director.

Set in a Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the 20^th century, Oklahoma! follows the on-again-off-again romance of headstrong lovers Curly and Laurey, a handsome cowboy and willful farm girl. This high-spirited musical known for its seamless integration of book, score and dance features song favorites "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," "I Cain't Say No," "People Will Say We're in Love" and the rollicking title number.

The Reagle cast stars Stephen Mark Lukas (Off-Broadway's My Big Gay Italian Wedding and the national tour of Little Women) as Curly; Eliza Xenakis (regional productions of Nine, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story) as Laurey; and New York Theater Ballet dancers Joshua Nieto and Rie Ogura as Dream Curly and Dream Laurey. Boston Ballet School instructor Christopher Hird is featured in the ensemble. Also cast are Ellen Peterson as spunky Aunt Eller; Steve Geary as the smitten Will Parker; Maggie McNeil as flirtatious Ado Annie; Douglas Jabara as the dangerous Jud Fry; Todd Yard as traveling salesman Ali Hakim; and Brad Walters as stern father Andrew Carnes.

Tickets are $35-$57 for adults, $25 for youths 5-18. Student rush, group and senior citizen discounts are also available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.reaglemusictheatre.org, by calling 781-891-5600, or in person at the Box Office at the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, Mass. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and performance days 9 a.m. till curtain.